Barton to train with Fleetwood

23 Jul 2012 20:47:07

Joey Barton has revealed he is to train with Football League newcomers Fleetwood.

The QPR midfielder was handed a 12-game suspension following his red card and subsequent violent reaction in the club's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season.

On Monday night, the 29-year-old wrote on social networking website Twitter: "Looking forward to training with Fleetwood Town for the week. Will get a much needed sweat on. Still have 3 years left at QPR. Exciting times for the club, which I intended to be a part of. Need to get some fitness in the meantime."

During the incident resulting in his ban, Barton elbowed Carlos Tevez and kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.

However, as his QPR team-mates continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2012-13 Barclays Premier League campaign, Barton will work on his fitness with the Lancashire club, who won the Blue Square Premier last season.

Barton added: "Fleetwood are a young club going places. 5 promotions already in the last few years. If I help some of their young players, great.

"Training with them will certainly help me with my short term fitness and my plan on being as fit as possible during my 12-game ban."